By Josh Siatkowski | Lead Writer
For most alumni, returning to campus for homecoming every few years is a commendable record of engagement. But Alice Curtis, Class of 1952, has an attendance streak that leaves most other alumni in the dust: Since 1948, she’s been to 78 straight.
Curtis, 96, has experienced a lifetime of Baylor Homecomings. She was there in 1949 for the last season in the wooden grandstands of the Waco Municipal Stadium. She was there in 1974, when Grant Teaff led the turnaround that became the Miracle on the Brazos. She was there in 2010, the season in which Robert Griffin III took home Baylor’s first and only Heisman Trophy.
And she’ll be there Saturday with her season tickets to see interim Head Coach Joe Klanderman’s first game in charge at McLane Stadium — for her 79th Baylor Homecoming.
“I really didn’t make a certain decision,” Curtis said of her streak. “I really didn’t. I just like to be there with friends, and I’m close enough.”
Today, Curtis lives in Fort Worth, in the same house she bought with her late husband Paul Curtis in the 1950s. After a decade teaching with her speech and education degree, she spent most of her career as a realtor. She retired from her 52 years in real estate only two years ago at age 94.
While the decision to keep coming back was more of an unconscious “no-brainer,” she said, her arrival at Baylor was intentional. Born and raised in the South Texas town of Gonzales, Curtis knew only one other girl who went to Baylor. But as a devout Baptist, Curtis said that her interest in the university was likely guided by her own strong faith.
“I always, from the time I was little, wanted to go to Baylor,” she said. “Don’t ask me why. Any friends? No. I think I had enough preachers that came to our church, though. Maybe that planted that in my heart. Anyway, I never wanted to go anywhere else. My parents worked hard and made it possible.”
With her supportive parents, Curtis also made the journey to Waco of her own accord, graduating high school as valedictorian and earning a $75 scholarship.
In her nearly eight decades as a Baylor student or alumna, Curtis has made several friends and contributions in addition to her homecoming visits. Suzie Anderson Person (’90) grew up a close friend of Curtis, as her parents, Justice and Mary Ann Anderson, were friends from their college days.
In her lifetime, Curtis sold Person’s parents their home after returning from mission work in Argentina, frequently attended Baylor football games with them and recently attended Person’s son’s wedding this past summer.
“I could go on and on,” said Person, an international missionary along with her husband, Kirk Person (’87). “She is so grace-filled, loving, very encouraging with words, just such an encouragement. She’s so positive, just such a positive attitude and thankful for blessings, thankful to God, but thankful to others.”
One way Curtis shares her positive attitude, Person said, is by giving friends countless free tickets to Baylor games over the years.
“So many people have gotten to go to games with her in these more recent years, driving her down and just having that time together on the road, and … getting to share the joy of all the Baylor traditions with them too,” she said.
Curtis has also remained actively involved in Baylor Baptist Student Ministries, which she joined as a student.
“She’s been so instrumental in networking and giving to Baylor through the years … I know most recently she was super excited about her involvement with the new Baptist Student Ministry building,” Curtis said.
Curtis returned to campus in August to celebrate the dedication of the new building, and today, a bench outside campus honors her.
Over time, homecoming has changed for Curtis and for Baylor. From new stadiums to new traditions and new generations, today’s homecoming celebrations vary greatly from those of 1948. But even as friends have passed and campus has changed, Curtis said that Baylor still “really does” feel like home.
“I’ve never had an unhappy time there,” Curtis said. “I can really say that.”
This Saturday, Curtis will continue a streak that only a pandemic could interrupt. And even in fall of 2020, when most of the world was on pause, Curtis put in enough effort to make a case that the streak still holds up.
“[COVID-19] was the only time [I wasn’t on campus for homecoming],” she said. “Two friends of mine met in Hillsboro, took some decorations. We decorated a corner of a restaurant to celebrate.”
With her dedication, positivity and generosity, Curtis has made a lasting impact on those who know her best.
“She’s one of my heroes,” Person said.
